The Ambo plant protection Research Center renovated and rearranged several of its plant protection laboratories in preparation for ISO 17025 accreditation. Key activities included removing non-functional equipment, reorganizing laboratory rooms and equipment, hiring and training new staff, and validating test methods. Challenges included lack of initial ISO awareness, staff turnover, and restricted access to certified reference materials for proficiency testing. Opportunities exist to provide continued training and establish robust ISO systems across research centers. Future plans include expanding diagnostic testing capabilities and supporting laboratory staff development.

1. Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research
Agricultural and Nutrition Research Laboratories Directorate
Ambo plant protection Research Center
Annual progress Report Oct 15 2014
Introduction ..................................................................................1
Laboratory renovation and rearrangements ................................................1
Test Methods validation, personnel proficiency test and data generations .............3
Photographic Illustrations of APPRC Laboratories Before and After Renovations ......4
Staffs participation during moving none functional Labs equipment and materials movements ....................................................................................4
Staffs participation during moving none functional Labs equipment and materials movements ....................................................................................5
None functional Labs equipment and materials moved to stored .........................6
Bacteriology lab previous view and reworking efforts .....................................6
Bacteriology lab present view ...............................................................7
Bio-control lab previous view and reworking efforts ......................................8
Bio-control lab present view after rework .................................................9
Distillation and washing room present view .............................................. 12
Laboratories staffs office, seat, computer and internet facilities .................... 12
Challenges .................................................................................. 13
Opportunities ............................................................................... 13
Future directions .......................................................................... 13

2. Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research
Agricultural and Nutrition Research Laboratories Directorate
Ambo plant protection Research Center
Annual progress Report Oct 15 2014
Introduction
Ambo plant protection Research Center has ten separate plant protection laboratories viz., Bacteriology lab, Biocontrol lab, Mycology lab, Entomology lab and quarantine, Virology lab, Nematology lab, Weed science lab, Cereal mycology modern lab/greenhouse, Biosystematics and Modern glass and warehouse allotted for all sections. Each of the labs is independently conduct and give service in plant pest identification, detection or diagnosis to research centers, farmers, stockholder etc., besides running its own research activities. Bacteriology and biocontrol labs were recently selected as candidate for ISO 17025 accreditation purpose. Before starting any activities and renovation we made awareness creation to all research and management staffs. To prepare our laboratories for accreditation or ISO 17025 purpose we have started the labs renovation by rearranging the labs, disposing nonfunctional equipment, obsolete chemicals and reagents, centralized collection and arrangement of glassware’s as per their types and size for easy access. Generally, the following activities were conducted during 2013/14 by APPRC.
Laboratory renovation and rearrangements
• Assignment of laboratories personnel (QMR, Labs Head, stock man and custodian).
• Awareness creation was given to all research staffs and management members on the agricultural quality research manuals and direction of the institute with respect to establish quality research laboratories and provisions quality services to customers.

3. • Nonfunctional materials, equipment’s and others glasses were totally removed from the laboratories and separated into disposable and maintenance.
• Chemicals, reagents and Medias were identified and separated into different rooms as obsolete and working.
• The laboratory rooms were demolished, painted and re-organized/arranged.
• The active working equipment and laboratories materials were rearranged and placed into their correct site.
• Materials, equipment and others arrangement and register was completed.
• Chemicals, reagents, medias and obsolete once identified, registered and correctly labeled.
• Washing, distillation and glassware room was separated, re-arranged and centralized to make it easily accessible to the users.
• Shower room was maintained and remains active for laboratory staffs alone.
• Bacteriology, biocontrol, Custodian and stock man room also separately re- arranged, renewed and painted well with color chosen for lab/white to the required standard for labs.
• Light and water systems in the laboratories, washing and shower rooms were renewed and adjusted to the required levels.
• Laboratories equipment were identified and calibrated to the standard reference requirements.
• Laboratory researchers or personnel’s (5) were recruited, and repeatedly trained on microbiological techniques and ISO 17025 requirements.
• Materials and supplies required for laboratories renovation were bought and used.

4. Test Methods validation, personnel proficiency test and data generations
 Bacteriology 11 and bio-control 4 test methods were validated and submitted for accreditation purpose.
 Five researchers in (bacteriology) and three researchers in (biocontrol) laboratories were tested and equipped for proficiency test.
 Data generation was done in both laboratories (bacteriology and biocontrol). The following results were obtained/address by APPRC laboratories:
No
Laboratories
Laboratories service results
Service requested
Samples registered
Report number
Test result reported
1
Bacteriology lab
0035
0190
0032
0183
2
Bio-c0ntrol lab
0008
0189
0008
0189
3
Mycology lab
0013
0042
0013
0042
4
Entomology lab
0003
0003
-
-
Total
59
424
53
414
NB: Mycology and entomology labs are not candidate one for ISO 17025.
 Laboratories internal audit was done and 17 non-conforming works were identified. Both action report and registry form was filled for each NC and corrective and preventive actions were taken.

5. Photographic Illustrations of APPRC Laboratories Before and After Renovations
Staffs participation during moving none functional Labs equipment and materials movements
Staffs participation during moving none functional Labs equipment and materials movements

6. Staffs participation during moving none functional Labs equipment and materials movements
None functional Labs equipment and materials moved to stored

7. None functional Labs equipment and materials moved to stored
Bacteriology lab previous view and reworking efforts

8. Bacteriology lab previous view and reworking efforts
Bacteriology lab present view after renovations

9. Bacteriology lab present view after renovations
Bio-control lab previous view and reworking efforts

10. Bio-control lab present view after rework

11. Bio-control lab present view after rework

12. Distillation, glassware and washing room previous view

13. Distillation and washing room present view
Laboratories staffs office, seat, computer and internet facilities

14. Challenges
• Lack of awareness and well established ISO systems before
• Shortage of human power and staff turnover
• It is very tiresome and time consuming work/renovations since it is establishment of new systems
• Shortage of personnel before new lab staffs recruitment and staff turnover. This is because out of four personnel had training on the process, two of them leaved the center and one changed his position.
• Some people blindly blocking changes or problems of positive attitude from some researchers; they are carelessly looking their own work as somebody else or center alone; rather than supporting they are blocking the change.
• Lack certified reference material or PT, b/c those materials are not allowed to easy move in/out the country or its movement is restricted.
• Lack of competent plant protection laboratories which had certificate of ISO 17025 to make Inter laboratory comparison.
Opportunities
• Strong commitment and support from managements
• Committed and devoted persons availability
Future directions
• Uninterrupted awareness creation and training both labs and research staffs
• Training labs and research staffs on modern plant diseases diagnosis techniques and extending our labs scopes of testing
• Strongly establishing ISO systems in our/APPRC or EAIR all plant protection labs
• Supporting the labs with budgets, facilities and capacity buildings
• Training labs staffs and arrange experience sharing; both inland and even abroad
By
Kassahun Sadessa
Ambo Plant Protection Research Center
Quality Agricultural and Nutrition Research Representative